Smiling Girl

The past couple of weeks Anna has really started to show off her beautiful smile. We caught a few of them on camera. She is such a good baby. We love her soooo much!

Microwave Makeover

By necessity we had a kitchen makeover this week. Our microwave decided to stop working all of the sudden. After 15 years of hard work, I guess that's understandable. We ordered a new one from the internet and worked together to install it. It looked a little weird at first because it is bigger than the last one. Also, the new one is white and the the old one was black. Once we got it in and stepped back, we realized that we like it. It should serve us well.

Old Microwave.
New Microwave.

Fall Colors

The Fall colors have been so beautiful this year. I have been trying to get out and photograph some of the leaves, because they are especially good this year. This week, the colors peaked and I had intentions of taking pictures. With the daylight savings time change and my school schedule I leave home when it is dark and I return when it is dark. Today I lucked out and was able to go to school a little later than usual. On my way there, I snapped a couple of pics of the trees in our neighborhood. I didn't do it justice, but hopefully next year I'll catch it right when the colors peak.

Li'l Smiler

Our sweet little girl has recently learned how to smile. For a while she could smile only unintentionally and mostly when she was asleep. Now she smiles back at us and melts our hearts. Enjoy the video!

Butternut Squash Soup

Though you wouldn't know it by the recent heat wave we've been experiencing here in Indiana, it is officially Autumn. We thought it fitting to include one of our favorite soup recipes. The proportions are not exact, it is more of a "to consistency" type of recipe, but it is pretty easy to make.

Butternut Squash Soup

1 butternut squash

3-4 cups chicken broth

3 Tbs. finely chopped onion

Milk

Sour Cream

Salt

Pepper

Pinch of cumin

Make chicken stock with bullion ( I use Better Than Bullion brand, but you can use whatever). While chicken broth is coming to a boil, peel the squash with a potato peeler. Cut the ends off, cut it in half, scoop out the guts and seeds. Slice the squash into about 1” x 1” cubes ( about what you would slice if you were making mashed potatoes). Chop up the onion. Place onion and chopped squash into boiling chicken broth. Add salt and pepper to taste and a pinch of cumin. Boil for 20-30 minutes or until squash is soft. Remove from heat for a few minutes, then puree. I use a stick blender, but you can use a regular blender or food processor. If the soup is too thick you can add milk and/or sour cream. I like to add a little of both to make it the right consistency and the sour cream makes it a little creamier. Makes about 6-8 servings.

Halloween and Sleeping A Lot in October

Brittany came up with the idea to be Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street. We wouldn't be complete without our rubber ducky. Brittany threw together the costumes with her mad sewing skills. We had a ward chili cook-off and trunk-or-treat activity at Church on Saturday. We had a great time.

We bumped into Elmo, so we had to take a picture together.The Mario Brothers were also there. We loved Matt and Jenna's costumes.Our friend Beverlee keeping Anna's little hands warm.

Twinners! Most girls would be embarrassed to be seen in the same clothes. Not these two.

Sleeping Pictures

When we looked at the pictures we've taken the last couple of weeks, we realized that Anna is asleep in almost every one! Here are some cute pictures of our little princess.

Look at her little squishy face."Finally some room! I've felt so cramped in that bassinet."

Brittany and Anna took a Sunday nap. Brittany got up to work on dinner and Anna kept sleeping. I thought it was so funny to see such a teeny tiny body in such a HUGE king sized bed.

It's my favorite when she falls asleep on my chest.

Taking a Sunday Snoozer with Daddy.

This is a cute memento the Hospital gave us. It's a bottle of sparkling grape juice with a custom label.

Happy Birthday Brittany!

Brittany's Birthday came and went. The big 26! I think that we only have one picture from that day. Jenna took really good care of Brittany while I was at school. They went out for breakfast (at 1:00 p.m.) and went shopping, and had a wonderful time.
We had a nice meal together at home and opened presents.
Thanks Jenna for making Brittany's Birthday so special.

P.S. We had cake, but it was 2 1/2 weeks belated, and guess what, we didn't get a picture of it. I need to really step up my game with the pictures again.

Anna Rolls Over At One Month

Okay I know what you are thinking, "Brittany you are a crazy mom who thinks your child is a whiz at one month. It was just a fluke that Anna rolled over, and even more of a fluke that you caught it on video tape." That is where I say to you,
"I couldn't believe it either, but this is the 3rd time I have seen her do it--and Brad can vouch for me. Right before I shot this video she rolled over and I was trying to catch it but ran out of room on my memory card. So I deleted some pictures and put her back on her tummy to see if she would do it again. Apparently she was tired of tummy time because right away she rolled over onto her back."



So there you have it, our child Prodigy...oh we are so proud. Oh ya and happy 4 week birthday Annalia. Where on earth did the last 4 weeks go. Anna weighed in at 9 lbs 12 oz, at her one month check up on Monday. That means she has put on 20% of her body weight in just a short 3.5 weeks. I hope she slows down a little, if she keeps growing at that rate she could weigh as much as me by Christmas :)

p.s. One more piece of bad news. Just as we predicted Anna is starting to lose he adorable fluffy brown hair. I am guessing that blonde hair will begin to appear in it's place, but if she is anything like the rest of the babies in our families she'll probably be bald for quite a long time before that hair comes in. So thank goodness for hair bows that tend to mask the fact that she is starting to look like a balding old man. Don't worry Anna, we still think you are adorable.